Symptoms of a failing Outer Tie Rod End

Loose steering

It’s not a fun feeling when your steering wheel doesn’t fully correspond to what your car is doing. But that’s exactly what can happen with dead tie rods, as the steering will feel loose and vague.

Uneven tire wear

Tie rods play a role in your car’s wheel alignment. If that alignment is . . . well . . . not aligned, then the tires will wear at an uneven rate.

Pulling

No, you’re not imagining that. Or maybe you are, in which case there are bigger problems than your tie rods. But if your car is pulling to the left or right while you’re driving, then your tie rods are a likely issue.

Clunking or knocking

Don’t you just love strange noises coming from your car? Yeah, they’re just the best. If you hear a knocking or a clunking noise, that may be your tie rods sending you their obituary.